Colour, lighting and layout are criminally overlooked devices that every skilled interior designer uses effectively to convey an atmosphere of sophistication and excess. Let’s highlight five brilliant ways to give your rooms an air of extravagance with practical luxe interior design without maxing out your credit card.

1. Dark and mysterious

The experts always tell you to use white if you want to open up a space and make any room seem larger, but is the appearance of size your primary concern? Maybe intimacy is what you’re after, and sophisticated spaces are always designed with comfort in mind. So why not break away from the norm and opt for a more daring colour scheme?

Changing the upholstery or wall colour to a dark-hued tone will instantly add richness. Burgundy and midnight blue are two stylish tones guaranteed to wow your housemates and guests. Even black, when used sparingly, can give interiors different dimensions, adding an area of seclusion without sacrificing space. The best part about darker colours is the way they make your existing belongings pop.

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2. Restyle the walls

What you decide to place on your walls goes a long way toward creating an ornate visual statement. Let’s change those old photo frames and experiment with their placement to create a feature wall that instantly attracts the eye. 

The paradox of old, weathered wall hangings can make an intense statement in an intimate environment. Large prints of classic artworks, vintage posters, or block-colour artworks will look at home in your lush space. Antique shutters, doors and ladders against walls create simple, rustic hangings.

Care to show off your creativity? For the bathroom or bedroom, collect patterned tiles or old plates and get artistic by arranging an eclectic mix to place on walls.

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3. Reflect your style

We love used mirrors. After all, as long as the mirror itself is intact (and you’re not buying seven years bad luck), a second hand, naturally aged frame has the type of character that tells a story. Try your local community second-hand sales to find an item with that rustic, antique look.

If you’re not happy with quality of the frame, restyle it using fabric from your local op-shop or textiles store. Alternatively if you find a gorgeous frame with a tainted mirror, you can ‘fake it till you make it’ by spraying the glass with ‘mirror effect’ spray paint.

If you’re after something a little more sleek and clean, simple-framed oversized mirrors don’t cost an arm and a leg nowadays. And what an incredible statement they make, especially in a darker room where a large reflective surface can help you retain a spacious feel and practical luxe design. 

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4. Prints and patterns

Bargain prints and patterns can be found in any department store or homewares retailer. Play around with upholstery designs, wall hangings and the shapes of homewares to create unique textures and vivid designs. Don’t forget to pay attention to the details to create the ideal luxe by design room.

For easy artworks, cover old canvases with fabric and you can even add your own touch by painting over the top. Macramé wall hangings are as simple as buying rope and a wooden pole to hang it from. All you need then is to watch DIY macramé videos on YouTube to master the art.

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5. Throw away the old

The biggest change in a home can be the simplest of objects. Throw cushions, rugs and linen can make a striking change to how each room looks. Try in-season colours and for a well needed facelift, make sure you steer away from the tones and patterns you used previously.

Make your own brand-new luxe by design cushion covers by getting discount fabrics and sewing them in a simple square or rectangle. The advantage to DIY facelifting is you can incorporate the same fabric pattern into everything from cushions to wall art to the top of your table.

To give a table top a new lease on life, carefully place a layer of your favourite fabric or arrange a collection of pictures on the coffee table. Place a glass table top as the final layer and hey presto! Your old table becomes brand new.

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Using these five steps is a lot more fun than splurging on one massive feature item. Not only that; it’s also a way of adding your signature style to rooms while helping you develop a better understanding of the relationship between colour, materials and patterns.

Before you buy that $10,000 sofa, it’s worth experimenting with these techniques. Try to make a visual statement with practical luxe design …without crying over your next bank statement!

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The Luxe style speaks to us of precious metals, reflective surfaces, exotic timber, velvet and silk. It spells elegance. You’re individual and imaginative, and attention to detail is key, with daring colour palettes, extreme scale, sexy and lavish fabrics creating an intriguing and sumptuous space. Luxe interior design pulls from the sophistication and refinement of the Hollywood regency era. It draws design elements from around the globe and has brought ornamentation back into homes in a modern way.

1. Top tip for Luxe style

Our top tip to creating the perfect Luxe style is to embrace the mirror (it reflects light and adds depth to a room) and ensure the trim is a lustrous metallic to give sophistication and presence.

2. Traits 

There are many common traits that complement the Luxe style including guild, mirror, glass, velvet, buttoning, rose tint, marble, gold, crystal, colour glass, wallpaper, perspex, fur, animal print, granite, chandeliers, vintage, high gloss, wallpaper, metallic. 

Most of the above traits can be used as focal points in a room. For instance, an oversized piece of art can give your space a ‘wow’ factor. 

3. Designers/Artists

Luxe fans love these household names: David Hicks, Greg Natale, Kelly Wearstler, Suzanne Kasler, Luis La Pegna, Philippe Starck, Tom Ford.

4. Pantone colours

5. Brands that fit

Luxe style brands: Café Lightning, Boyd Blue, Café Culture & Insitu, Loui Vuitton, Style Factory International.

Luxe style is all about the finer details in life. With its elegance and extravagant finishings, Luxe can make your home feel and look like a million bucks! 

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But why is it the most boring space in the house? Does it need to be ‘the space style forgot’? Here at Designbx we’ve decided to think about the humble laundry more laterally. Given the time we spend in that small room, shouldn’t we be making it as visually pleasing and functional as possible? Maybe all this time we’ve been torturing ourselves unnecessarily. Is it possible to actually want to spend time in the laundry? This was a challenge we had to accept!

Firstly, laundry fittings, plumbing and appliances have come a long way. Pull-down mixer taps, deep laundry sink bowls, mould-resistant wall finishes, and custom storage solutions are a few of the modern laundry items that are becoming the norm rather than the exceptions. Combine them with a fresh take on aesthetics, and suddenly you’ve got some unexpected bling that might make chores a little less challenging.

1. Modern laundry

Rather than distracting the eye from equipment, it’s the more functional items in this striking design that provide the pop and dazzle. The quality of curved chrome tapware, especially the pull-down tap, draw the eye and make a real impression while adding convenience. Custom cabinetry provides concealed storage, and the monochromatic colour scheme becomes a canvas where you can add your own bling courtesy of a floating shelf dressed with ornaments or plants.

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2. Scandi laundry

Everyone’s mad about Scandi this year and the interior design style’s love of minimalism is perfect for the laundry. The brushed rose tapware contrasts beautifully with matte black and chrome while the oak timber mirror, floating shelves and tough bench tops deliver the raw finishes that are a trademark element of the Scandi look. Last but not least, how about those geometric splashback tiles? Stone, timber and ceramic finishes, brought to life by a natural palette – that’s why we love Scandi.

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3. Traditional Chic laundry

You may not associate a laundry with elegance but this design is about to change your opinion. In fact, this space is about to become a real show-off and start demanding attention. Classic European décor and well-detailed pops of luxe combine to add an air of refinement. The sophisticated tapware goes beyond function to become a chic feature. Brushed rose, the patterned floor tiles and curved tapware become the focus. But it’s hard not to fall in love with that free-standing bath.

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4. Shop the Look Laundries – from bland to grand

Using the three styles above, it’s possible to take a room that begs you to close the door, and make it a dazzling space that you’ll gladly include in the tour when friends visit. From ugly duckling to beautiful swan, it’s time to stop hiding the laundry and give it the same design love applied to the rest of your home.
Visit Shop the Look for more ideas on pre-fabulous interior designs!

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All of these dreams can be realised…until children become part of the family. From this point on, most of us can say goodbye to the grown-up, spacious, clutter-free tidy home, which will no doubt be replaced by scattered toys (suddenly it’s a hazard to walk around barefoot in your own home!), walls used for a variety of ‘artworks’, stained carpets, and scratched/bashed/broken items that you used to recognise as your favourite pieces of furniture. 

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But what can you do? No one wants their children to grow up living in a museum – that is no fun at all! But must you simply accept that this is your home for the next 16+ years? Absolutely not…who said it’s only kids who should have their dedicated play areas, full of their things and catering to their needs?? Hello parents retreat! 

Yes, a parents retreat has become an actual thing over the last few years, and can come in many shapes, sizes and styles. But the one simple rule is this – no kids allowed! No toys, no pets, no drawing on walls or wrecking expensive carpets and furniture. Everything else is entirely up to you – it’s your space! Your sanctuary, your escape zone. However, here are some of the things to consider.

Decor Style

This is entirely up to you, everyone’s preferences are different, as we talked about previously. You might be close to the ocean and opt for a coastal theme or love the country french look. We have opted for a bit of a luxe interior style – it’s adults only so why not! 

Colour

Think about the vibe you want to create in your retreat…do you want it to be light, bright and invigorating? Go for whites and neutrals with pops of bright colour.  Or cosy, romantic and feminine? Pastel colours with touches of white and soft pale grey will work. Working towards creating a specific mood will help you determine which colours are best. Or build your palette around a favourite artwork.  We went for a contemporary palette of soft pastels teamed with jewel shades, with hints of gold and navy, which reinforces the grown up luxe feel. 

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Furnishings

Well…what are the main requirements of this space? Sleep? Escape? Work? Relax? Eat? Again, these factors will guide you in choosing the perfect items of furniture for your retreat. At the minimum, try to go for an amazing comfortable bed (as large as will fit!), a comfortable sofa for 2 (movie screen optional!), and a large luxurious bathtub if you have an en-suite. Comfortable luxurious bedding, textured throw cushions and a large area rug will add to the luxury decor feel whilst creating warmth and character. If you plan to escape here to work at times, find yourself a stylish desk and comfortable chair. Or maybe you have other interests and passions – avid reader? Make yourself a reading nook complete with huge armchair or chaise. Love arts and crafts? Build yourself a corner workspace. Anything that makes you love being in this space should be included. 

Other things that could be included are plants, amazing ornate mirrors, artworks and personal photos, a drinks trolley and walk in wardrobe…but again, it is entirely down to you and what you love – it is your retreat so you better enjoy it!

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